Letters to the editor for Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Published: Wednesday, October 9, 2013 at 5:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, October 8, 2013 at 5:31 p.m.

Condos on City Island?

The capacity of some of our local leaders to regurgitate truly bad ideas simply boggles the mind. This propensity seems to occur in direct proportion to the perceived profitability available to their campaign contributors. Imagine that.

The latest evidence proving this inconvenient truth is statements made by Volusia County Councilman Josh Wagner regarding the idea of turning City Island into another infestation of condos and vacant commercial space. This idea was first proposed by one of those ever-popular teams of overpaid consultants whose woefully inadequate grasp of local traditions was matched only by their ability to come up with suggestions abhorred by all but the most booster-minded among us.

Councilman Wagner says we should tear down two perfectly good public buildings that will cost us far more to remove and replace than their original cost. Then we’re to turn the public’s land over to private developers so they can hustle a buck from these imaginary high rollers who can’t wait to buy into another high -rise condo.

Meanwhile, acres of vacant downtown property that used to house automobile dealerships before they were lured out west of town sit idle. What’s wrong with building condos on that already-vacant space? All this talk of getting public property back on the tax rolls may sit well with those among us who value dollars above all else in life, but City Island is and should forever remain public property. It is deed-restricted to remain so, and attempts to undo those restrictions will continue to be met with fierce resistance from the public. A public that votes and has, at times, a long memory.

David Hartgrove

Daytona Beach

Make that “Oh heck no”

When I finished reading the article regarding Volusia County Councilman Josh Wagner’s proposal to redevelop City Island by tearing down the present courthouse annex and regional library and turn this prime public space over to private developers for building a large-scale condominium project, I felt the urge to cry, and throw up. We still have a few assets remaining in this community to be proud of, and the City Island is one of them, just the way it is. I lived here in the 1950s, when a drive down Atlantic Avenue made you smile just to be here. The bandshell and clock tower, beautiful structures that they are, were set off within a park of green grass and hundreds of flowers. The Atlantic was visible all along the way, and one could choose to drive the road, or the beach, for free. Then came the developers, and our most important asset, the beach, has been essentially ruined.

Wagner wants to be “progressive, and aggressive, and turn this area around.” Well, fine. Then turn your attention to those places that would benefit by demolition and replacement, and if you turn your gaze a block or two on the west side of Beach Street, you can find plenty of those places to build condos. This is all about money and greed. The public good is not served well by individuals who think that progress is defined by despoiling nature and replacing it with cement.

Alan Hovey

Ormond Beach

Show up to defend it

Here we go again. The destruction of City Island as we know it just keeps looking to be an attractive thing to do for those folks (like Volusia County Councilmen Josh Wagner and Doug Daniels) who are fixated on the bottom line. I applaud developer Jack White, who notes that regarding City Island, “It’s a very key piece to our downtown,” and, regarding development of City Island, “If you put too much weight on one side, you tend to pull away from the quality-of-life aspect.”

I urge you to support saving City Island by being vocal at any meetings where discussion of City Island is on the agenda. The Volusia County Council usually meets on the second floor of the Thomas C. Kelly Administration Center, 123 W. Indiana Ave., DeLand. Meetings are scheduled for 9 a.m. Oct. 10 and Oct. 24, at which time Wagner is expected to propose his destructive ideas for City Island which include tearing down the courthouse and the library.

No doubt Mr. Wagner has already concluded and will soon note that the tennis facility, the rowing club, and the ball park are all on land that could more profitably house more condominiums or hotels. I’ve got an idea: Why not propose putting the huge new condo developments out by Municipal Stadium, instead of on City Island? Use the same arguments that led to tearing down a conveniently located stadium and building a new one at a remote site that is not convenient for anyone.

BILL ROBISON

Ormond Beach Fostering student inventors

I am a teacher at Osteen Elementary and teach K-5 math intervention.

I received a FUTURES Foundation grant titled “Lego Masters.” This grant will enable a team of fourth and fifth grade students to design, construct and program their own intelligent invention. They will accept the 2013 Florida Lego League challenge, called “Nature’s Fury,” to compete with their robot in a local “robot fest.”

During this experience, the students will learn to work independently of the teacher as a team. They will discover their own leadership strengths as well as the unexpected abilities of their peers. Then they will create a presentation to share with an audience who can benefit from the solution.

Having the FUTURES Foundation behind us, promoting quality education in Volusia County, has made a dramatic difference in the education experience of our students.

Thank you to all the businesses and teachers who graciously donate to FUTURES.

April Jollie

Osteen

The few vs. the many

In reference to the many recent letters concerning gun ownership and gun control, I would like to remind everyone that our federal government keeps telling us that we should not hate all Muslims just because of the actions of a few deranged individuals.

This same federal government then vigorously campaigns against the private ownership of guns, just because of the actions of a few deranged individuals. Does anyone see a problem here?

Bruce Fizell

Ormond-by-the-Sea

Paying them not to work

To quote the article, “Quick end to shutdown remote,” “Today’s agenda (House) calls for passing a bill to assure post-shutdown pay for an estimated 800,000 furloughed employees.”

Later in the article: “The White House did not object to assuring pay for furloughed employees.”

The good news? Those who will get unemployment benefits will have to pay them back when they get their post-shutdown pay. If we are going to pay these employees, why are they not working?

Oh, not to mention that Congress took a three-day weekend to fly home! Must not be enough for them to do in Washington.

<p class="bold allcaps">Condos on City Island?</p>
<p>The capacity of some of our local leaders to regurgitate truly bad ideas simply boggles the mind. This propensity seems to occur in direct proportion to the perceived profitability available to their campaign contributors. Imagine that.</p><p>The latest evidence proving this inconvenient truth is statements made by Volusia County Councilman Josh Wagner regarding the idea of turning City Island into another infestation of condos and vacant commercial space. This idea was first proposed by one of those ever-popular teams of overpaid consultants whose woefully inadequate grasp of local traditions was matched only by their ability to come up with suggestions abhorred by all but the most booster-minded among us.</p><p>Councilman Wagner says we should tear down two perfectly good public buildings that will cost us far more to remove and replace than their original cost. Then we're to turn the public's land over to private developers so they can hustle a buck from these imaginary high rollers who can't wait to buy into another high -rise condo.</p><p>Meanwhile, acres of vacant downtown property that used to house automobile dealerships before they were lured out west of town sit idle. What's wrong with building condos on that already-vacant space? All this talk of getting public property back on the tax rolls may sit well with those among us who value dollars above all else in life, but City Island is and should forever remain public property. It is deed-restricted to remain so, and attempts to undo those restrictions will continue to be met with fierce resistance from the public. A public that votes and has, at times, a long memory.</p><p><strong>David Hartgrove</strong></p><p>Daytona Beach</p><h3>Make that “Oh heck no”</h3>
<p>When I finished reading the article regarding Volusia County Councilman Josh Wagner's proposal to redevelop City Island by tearing down the present courthouse annex and regional library and turn this prime public space over to private developers for building a large-scale condominium project, I felt the urge to cry, and throw up. We still have a few assets remaining in this community to be proud of, and the City Island is one of them, just the way it is. I lived here in the 1950s, when a drive down Atlantic Avenue made you smile just to be here. The bandshell and clock tower, beautiful structures that they are, were set off within a park of green grass and hundreds of flowers. The Atlantic was visible all along the way, and one could choose to drive the road, or the beach, for free. Then came the developers, and our most important asset, the beach, has been essentially ruined. </p><p>Wagner wants to be “progressive, and aggressive, and turn this area around.” Well, fine. Then turn your attention to those places that would benefit by demolition and replacement, and if you turn your gaze a block or two on the west side of Beach Street, you can find plenty of those places to build condos. This is all about money and greed. The public good is not served well by individuals who think that progress is defined by despoiling nature and replacing it with cement. </p><p><strong>Alan Hovey</strong></p><p>Ormond Beach</p><h3>Show up to defend it</h3>
<p>Here we go again. The destruction of City Island as we know it just keeps looking to be an attractive thing to do for those folks (like Volusia County Councilmen Josh Wagner and Doug Daniels) who are fixated on the bottom line. I applaud developer Jack White, who notes that regarding City Island, “It's a very key piece to our downtown,” and, regarding development of City Island, “If you put too much weight on one side, you tend to pull away from the quality-of-life aspect.”</p><p>I urge you to support saving City Island by being vocal at any meetings where discussion of City Island is on the agenda. The Volusia County Council usually meets on the second floor of the Thomas C. Kelly Administration Center, 123 W. Indiana Ave., DeLand. Meetings are scheduled for 9 a.m. Oct. 10 and Oct. 24, at which time Wagner is expected to propose his destructive ideas for City Island which include tearing down the courthouse and the library. </p><p>No doubt Mr. Wagner has already concluded and will soon note that the tennis facility, the rowing club, and the ball park are all on land that could more profitably house more condominiums or hotels. I've got an idea: Why not propose putting the huge new condo developments out by Municipal Stadium, instead of on City Island? Use the same arguments that led to tearing down a conveniently located stadium and building a new one at a remote site that is not convenient for anyone.</p><p><strong>BILL ROBISON</strong></p><h3>Ormond Beach Fostering student inventors</h3>
<p>I am a teacher at Osteen Elementary and teach K-5 math intervention.</p><p>I received a FUTURES Foundation grant titled “Lego Masters.” This grant will enable a team of fourth and fifth grade students to design, construct and program their own intelligent invention. They will accept the 2013 Florida Lego League challenge, called “Nature's Fury,” to compete with their robot in a local “robot fest.”</p><p>During this experience, the students will learn to work independently of the teacher as a team. They will discover their own leadership strengths as well as the unexpected abilities of their peers. Then they will create a presentation to share with an audience who can benefit from the solution.</p><p>Having the FUTURES Foundation behind us, promoting quality education in Volusia County, has made a dramatic difference in the education experience of our students.</p><p>Thank you to all the businesses and teachers who graciously donate to FUTURES.</p><p><strong>April Jollie</strong></p><p>Osteen</p><h3>The few vs. the many</h3>
<p>In reference to the many recent letters concerning gun ownership and gun control, I would like to remind everyone that our federal government keeps telling us that we should not hate all Muslims just because of the actions of a few deranged individuals.</p><p>This same federal government then vigorously campaigns against the private ownership of guns, just because of the actions of a few deranged individuals. Does anyone see a problem here?</p><p><strong>Bruce Fizell</strong></p><p>Ormond-by-the-Sea</p><h3>Paying them not to work</h3>
<p>To quote the article, “Quick end to shutdown remote,” “Today's agenda (House) calls for passing a bill to assure post-shutdown pay for an estimated 800,000 furloughed employees.”</p><p>Later in the article: “The White House did not object to assuring pay for furloughed employees.”</p><p>The good news? Those who will get unemployment benefits will have to pay them back when they get their post-shutdown pay. If we are going to pay these employees, why are they not working?</p><p>Oh, not to mention that Congress took a three-day weekend to fly home! Must not be enough for them to do in Washington.</p><p><strong>LINDA NEELY</strong></p><p>Ormond Beach</p>